The Note's Must-Reads for Friday, May 11, 2010

The Note's Must-Reads are a round-up of today's political headlines and stories from ABC News and the top U.S. newspapers. Posted Monday through Friday right here at www.abcnews.com

Compiled by ABC News Jayce Henderson and Carrie Halperin

PRESIDENT OBAMA & VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN: ABC News' Mary Bruce: " Obama Touts Support for Gay Marriage at Star-Studded Fundraiser at George Clooney's Home" President Obama told a star-studded crowd at the Hollywood home of actor George Clooney that his decision to support same-sex marriage was a "logical extension of what America is supposed to be." On Thursday night the president said his newly-publicized position crystallizes the difference between his vision for the future of the country and that of Republicans. LINK

The New York Times' Mark Landler and Jeff Zeleny: " Obama Campaign Pushes the Issue of Gay Marriage" Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. apologized to President Obama for hastening him into an endorsement of same-sex marriage, several people briefed on the exchange said Thursday, even as the White House sought to capitalize in the campaign on Mr. Obama's long-awaited expression of support. LINK

USA Today's David Jackson: " Biden apologizes to Obama over gay marriage flap" Vice President Joe Biden apologized to President Obama for preempting him on the gay marriage issue, officials said today. Biden's Sunday statement on NBC's Meet The Press that he was "absolutely comfortable" with idea of same-sex marriage put political pressure on Obama, who agreed to a hastily scheduled television interview on Wednesday to declare his own support. LINK

Politico's Jennifer Epstein: " Obama touts gay marriage stance at Clooney fundraiser" President Obama told a star-studded group of supporters Thursday that his decision to back gay marriage "was a logical extension of what America is supposed to be." Speaking to about 150 donors who gave $40,000 each for a dinner at the Studio City home of actor George Clooney, Obama acknowledged that "obviously, yesterday we made some news," though he didn't actually use the word "marriage" to describe the news he made. The crowd roared in approval. LINK

Bloomberg's Mike Dorning: " Obama Winning Investors by 49%-38% Against Romney in Poll" Global investors increasingly prefer President Barack Obama to Republican challenger Mitt Romney and most say they believe the incumbent will remain in the White House for another four years. Asked who would be the better leader for the global economy, 49 percent favor Obama against 38 percent for Romney, according to a quarterly Bloomberg Global Poll. In January, the two candidates tied on the question. LINK

MITT ROMNEY: The Washington Times' Seth McLaughlin: " Romney's team starts to look like Bush's" Ed Gillespie served as President George W. Bush's right-hand man and now is a top political adviser to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. LINK

The Los Angeles Times' Robin Abcarian: " Romney apologizes after report of bullying as a teen" Mitt Romney apologized Thursday after a newspaper story described bullying behavior on his part when he was an 18-year-old senior at an elite, all-boys prep school in Michigan. LINK

The Wall Street Journal's Sara Murray: " Romney Backs Gay Couple's Right to Adopt" Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition to gay marriage Thursday but said he's OK with gay couples' right to adopt. "Many gay couples are able to adopt children. That's fine," Mr. Romney said in a television interview with Fox News's Neil Cavuto. Mr. Romney's comments come a day after President Barack Obama announced he supports gay marriage. LINK

The Boston Globes' Matt Viser: " Marriage issue is test for Romney campaign" Mitt Romney's campaign appears poised to use gay marriage as a way to mobilize a social conservative GOP base that has long distrusted him, even while he walks a tightrope while trying to win over independent voters in key swing states. The former Massachusetts governor is planning to give the commencement address on Saturday at the conservative Liberty University, culminating a week where issues turned away from the economy and toward an emerging hot-button issue in American politics. LINK

RNC: The Washington Post's Felicia Sonmez: " RNC Hispanic outreach director: Romney is 'still deciding what his position on immigration is'" A Republican National Committee roundtable on Tuesday aimed at highlighting the GOP's Hispanic get-out-the-vote effort ended up backfiring as the RNC's director of Hispanic outreach struggled to explain to reporters Republicans' message to Hispanics when it comes to immigration. LINK